Volume IV Part 36 (2/2)
”The abbe is very wise, for he has deceived so ot into trouble”
He took lish, and Andalusians; and then to his gallery, a very fine one; to his large and choice library; and at last to his study, where he had a fine collection of prohibited books
I was reading titles and turning over leaves, when the duke said,--
”Pro to shew you”
I pro any difficulty, but I expected a surprise of some sort He then shewed me a satire which I could not understand, but which was meant to turn the whole Court into ridicule Never was there a secret so easily kept
”You must come to the St Charles Theatre,” said he, ”and I will present you to the handsoo when you like, as my box is always open to my friends I will also introduce you to lad to see you”
”What! you have a mistress, have you?”
”Yes, but only for form's sake, as I am very fond of my wife All the same, I am supposed to be deeply in love with her, and even jealous, as I never introduce anyone to her, and do not allow her to receive any visitors”
”But does not your young and handso a mistress?”
”My wife could not possibly be jealous, as she knows that I am impotent--except, of course, with her”
”I see, but it seee; can one be said to have a mistress whom one does not love?”
”I did not say I loved her not; on the contrary, I am very fond of her; she has a keen and pleasant wit, but she interests my head rather than ly? You shall see her to-night, and you can tell me what you think of her afterwards She is a handsoirl of seventeen”
”Can she speak French?”
”As well as a Frenchwoot to the theatre I was introduced to several ladies, but none of the, a mere boy, sat in his box in the middle of the theatre, surrounded by his courtiers, richly but tastefully dressed The pit was full and the boxes also The latter were ornamented with mirrors, and on that occasion were all illunificent scene, but all this glitter and light put the stage into the background
After we had gazed for some time at the scene, which is almost peculiar to Naples, the duke took me to his private box and introduced me to his friends, who consisted of all the wits in the town
I have often laughed on hearing philosophers declare that the intelligence of a nation is not so es should be sent to Naples and then to St
Petersburg, and be told to reflect, or sireat Boerhaave had lived at Naples he would have learntits effects on vegetables, and still more on ani but water, will cure diseases which are fatal elsewhere, despite the doctors' efforts
The duke, who had left me to the wits for a short time, returned and took me to the box of his mistress, as accompanied by an old lady of respectable appearance As he went in he said, ”'Leonilda mia, ti presento il cavalier Don Giacomo Casanova, Veneziano, amico mio'”